Expand Energy, SM Energy, and SLB offer yields up to 2.7% with strong analyst backing. See the key catalysts and analyst price targets.
Middle East tensions and questions about AI spending have pushed some investors toward dividend-paying stocks. Here are three names that top-rated analysts on TipRanks have highlighted.
EXE stock page announced a $1.25 billion acquisition of Twin Eagle Holdings, a natural gas marketing business. The company reported second-quarter results that beat expectations. It repurchased $530 million in shares during the quarter and added $1 billion to its buyback authorization. Expand Energy pays a quarterly dividend of roughly 58 cents a share, annualized to $2.30, for a yield of about 2.5%.
Wolfe Research analyst Doug Leggate, ranked No. 807 among more than 12,400 analysts tracked by TipRanks, reiterated a buy rating on EXE and raised his price target to $114 from $110. He said the company delivered market-beating adjusted earnings per share and EBITDA, helped by better gas realizations and lower expenses. "Solid 2Q26 with in-line guidance keeps our focus on what it can control, walking the line between options to return value to s/holders," Leggate said. He sees net debt reduction as the best use of cash, followed by buybacks, then M&A. The Twin Eagle deal should lower Expand's breakeven by about 7 cents from roughly $2.80 per Mcf, he added.
SM Energy (SM) offers a quarterly dividend of 22 cents a share, or an annualized 88 cents, yielding about 2.7%. Roth analyst Leo Mariani, ranked No. 65 on TipRanks, reaffirmed a buy rating and raised his price target to $34 from $32. He cited higher oil prices and expectations for a strong second-quarter report. The preliminary update showed strong oil and gas price realizations. Cash hedging losses of $220 million were slightly above Roth's estimate of $211 million. Mariani raised his cash flow per share estimate by 3% and expects SM to report Q2 results on Aug. 5 with oil production of 237,650 barrels a day, about 1.5% above the Street's estimate. He cited SM Energy's reasonable returns to shareholders and discounted valuation. He also pointed to upside potential in the Austin Chalk and Uinta plays.
SLB stock page, the oilfield services company, reported second-quarter earnings that beat estimates. Growth in international markets, especially offshore activity in Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, offset disruptions in the Middle East from the U.S.-Iran conflict, the company said. SLB pays a quarterly dividend of almost 30 cents a share, annualized to $1.18, for a yield of 2.4%.
Goldman Sachs analyst Neil Mehta, ranked No. 666 on TipRanks, reiterated a buy rating on SLB with a price target of $62. "Given SLB's position within international OFS, we reiterate our Buy rating and see forward activity expectations as a driver of earnings," Mehta said. He expects international revenue to grow about 10% between 2026 and 2027, driven by intervention activity, a recovery in Middle East work, higher offshore activity, and a potential ramp-up in exploration. Mehta also highlighted SLB's data center business, which the company expects to reach an annual run-rate revenue above $2 billion by the end of 2027. He sees strong free cash flow and shareholder returns this year.
SLB expects its data center revenue run-rate to exceed $2 billion by end of 2027.
Drafted by a large language model from the source reporting linked above, then screened by automated publishing checks. It is not read by a journalist before publication. Some articles cite our Alpha Score. Verify prices and figures against the original source. Educational coverage, not personalized advice.